Bandit: Snuggie for Dogs model

I don’t understand the appeal, but I’ve now been drawn into the world of Snuggie products with the introduction of the Snuggie for dogs, “the pet blanket with sleeves!”

For $14.95 (plus $7.95 shipping and handling) you get exactly what’s promised: A dog-sized fleece blanket with sleeves in your choice of blue and pink, in one of four sizes. You get a second for free if you pay for shipping.

Is it worth it? I’m not quite sure. I’m not into canine fashions, but the Snuggie for Dogs doesn’t seem to have any distinct advantages over the dog sweaters and coats you can find at any old pet store. Here’s a photo of Bandit enjoying his Snuggie, which the company was nice enough to send as a sample:

Does he look a little sad to you?

It might be a matter of sizing, too. The Snuggie comes in extra small (6-7 inches, 5-7 pounds), small (8-11 inches, 8-11 pounds), medium (12-15 inches, 12-19 pounds) and large (16-22 inches, 20+ pounds). Bandit, at 60 pounds and about three feet long, likely falls outside the target market.

Regardless of your dog’s size, however, I think the fasteners leave something to be desired — they don’t seem particularly secure and aren’t particularly attractive, sticking out at odd angles. But Bandit seemed to tolerate it pretty well, even though he couldn’t really move as freely as he normally does.

At any rate, I’m sure it’s a bargain for Snuggie owners who want to coordinate outfits with their pets.